PRO APPROACH 1112.Indd 52 10/24/12 2:03:07 PM Clinic
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
PBA POLITICS: THE LEFT VS. THE RIGHT • THE BEST OF THE EARL ANTHONY INTERVIEWS NOVEMBER 2012 • $3.95 • www.bowlersjournal.com Knockout! BJI’s 2012 Bowling Center Architecture & Design Awards Round 1 Bowling & Amusement Posted with permission from Bowlers Journal International. Moreno Valley, California 1112_BJI_COVER.indd C1 10/24/12 1:57:20 PM Clinic Pro Tips And Ball Reviews THE PRO APPROACH BY BILL SPIGNER { [email protected] } Getting to a Successful Last Step THE BEGINNING OF THE APPROACH leads Mike Fagan, Parker Bohn, Even “two-hander” Jason Mika Koivuniemi, Michael Belmonte achieves this posi- to the end. While that may seem obvious, it’s Haugen, Chris Loschetter, tion, with his upper arm and a key concept because an approach that does Pete Weber and Bill O’Neil. spine angle at 90 degrees. not begin well probably won’t end well. That’s why I devoted so much space to the subject, as well as the different styles of timing, in my two most recent columns. The middle of the approach more shoulder rotation, very is one area of our game over few contemporary players are which we really should have at the peak of the swing at very little control. It’s impor- the completion of this step. tant to let that part be con- Today, I look at timing of trolled by our ball placement the swing in relationship and swing, thus setting us up to the last step entering the for a successful fi nish. The last slide. Here’s what I mean by step, and where the ball is in “entering the slide”: when the relationship to the start of the sliding leg’s knee just passes last step, has a great effect on the bowling-side leg’s knee, how we fi nish the delivery. and the toe of the sliding leg At this key point of one’s is just starting to pass the approach, there are timing bowling-side foot and makes issues to be considered. The contact with the fl oor. fi rst involves the location of At this point, the backswing the ball at the completion of should be completed and the next-to-last step, when the the arm should be starting foot is fl at, the body weight has down, so it’s moving in the transferred onto that foot/leg, same direction as the rest of and the opposite foot’s toe is the body. It’s very important still in contact with the fl oor. to allow the arm to swing The position of the ball in freely from the top down, relationship to the completion using gravity and upper-body of the backswing is dependent rotation as power sources on the height of the back- to increase swing speed swing. In the late 1970s (yes, without excessive muscle. I’m dating myself), when I For many top players, the fi rst started teaching profes- arm is at a right angle (about 90 sionally, we would want the degrees) to the spine entering Mike Fagan’s arm is at a right angle to his spine as he swing to be complete at this the slide. Some of the players prepares to enter the slide and complete his delivery point. But today, with the you’ll see in this position are — the best position for players with high backswings. much higher backswings and Chris Barnes (see page 43), 52 Bowlers Journal International | November 2012 Posted with permission from Bowlers Journal International. www.bowlersjournal.com PRO APPROACH 1112.indd 52 10/24/12 2:03:07 PM Clinic Pro Tips And Ball Reviews This is the best position for than the 90-degree players. the more contemporary play- Then there are the players ers with higher backswings. whose bowling arms are less For most of these players, the than 90 degrees to their spines ball is at its highest point of entering the slide, including the swing or already descend- Walter Ray Williams, Norm ing at this time. Pete Weber’s Duke, Ryan Shafer and Wes swing and Mike Fagan’s swing Malott. These players gener- start descending before the ally have shorter backswings completion of the next-to- and less shoulder rotation, last step, which helps make and exhibit a more violent the downswing easy. follow-through. They tend to For those with a swing be very accurate, and their that’s still going up entering bread-and-butter shot is the slide, with a 125-degree straighter — although Malott or greater angle to the spine (a and Shafer can hook the more vertical or steeper swing), ball with the best of them. more muscle or upper-body All three types of swing forward tilt is required to get positions work when entering the ball to the release zone. the slide, but the 90-degree There are some great bowlers angle provides the best tim- who have this type of timing ing for power, a free down- — Tommy Jones, Jason Couch, swing and a lot of touch. Ronnie Russell, Rhino Page Two areas at the end of the and Sean Rash among them — approach related to timing are but it is much more physical when the foot stops and when and harder on the body in the the ball comes off the hand. Because of his size and strength, Wes Malott can gen- long run. All these players There are three ways to look erate plenty of ball speed and power with a backswing exhibit lots of power and more at the timing of the foot stop- that’s much lower than many of his contemporaries. muscle in the downswing ping in relation to the release: www.bowlersjournal.com Posted with permission from Bowlers Journal International. November 2012 | Bowlers Journal International 53 PRO APPROACH 1112.indd 53 10/24/12 2:03:10 PM Clinic Pro Tips And Ball Reviews 1. the foot has stopped well timing allows the bowler to and rotation of the ball. From the shoulders being consistent before the release of the ball have a “soft hand” at release. the feeling of the timing of the during the release. The more (Parker Bohn, Kelly Kulick and Finally, the moment of release, you can backtrack to “off” the shoulders and swing Mike DeVaney use this meth- truth: when the ball comes fi gure out what happened. direction are, the less accurate od); 2. the foot stops just as the off the hand. It’s critical to Some basic rules of thumb: the shot will be in relation- ball gets to the bottom of the understand the feeling of the • An early release will cause ship to the ball off the hand. swing and the thumb has not ball being early, on time or the ball to slide longer and Pay attention to the feeling exited the thumb hole (Norm late off the hand. A top player miss outside your target line. of the ball off the hand, and Duke, Walter Ray Williams will know right at that point • When the release is start taking notes on how and Chris Loschetter); 3. the whether the release was cor- in time, the ball will go the ball performs relative foot is still sliding when the rect, and won’t allow himself along the intended line. to that “feel.” Your notes thumb exits, and the fi ngers to be fooled into thinking a • A late release will cause can provide clues to the exit out in front of the bowler mis-timed release was correct. the ball to miss inside your source of timing problems. just as the foot stops sliding The timing of the release target line and begin slowing (Pete Weber, Chris Barnes and helps you understand why the down sooner than is ideal. For archived “Pro Ap- Mike Fagan — all modern-day ball went in the direction it These “rules” are dependent proach” columns and more, strokers). This last type of traveled, as well as the speed on the swing being true and go online to: billspigner.com. Studying the approaches of Ryan Shafer (left) and Tommy Jones (right) demonstrates that there’s more than one way to achieve good timing and ultimate success on the lanes. Shafer is among a group of mostly veteran players with shorter backswings and less shoulder rotation, while Jones is among a group of mostly younger players who utilize more muscle and exhibit greater upper-body forward tilt. 54 Bowlers Journal International | November 2012 Posted with permission from Bowlers Journal International. www.bowlersjournal.com PRO APPROACH 1112.indd 54 10/24/12 2:03:11 PM.